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Maine Residential Alzheimer’s Care (Memory Care): Laws, Costs & Financial Help

Last Updated: June 10, 2026

Table of Contents

Legal Definition of Assisted Living / Memory Care in MaineMaine Memory Care CostsLaws & RegulationsAdmissions Process & RequirementsFacility / ResidenceStaff & TrainingEvictions & DischargesFinancial AssistanceVeterans Affairs (VA)SSIOther Options

Free Medicaid Eligibility Test

Financial Assistance for Dementia Care

All-Natural Dementia Treatment

Get Paid to Care for a Family Member

Find Assisted Living/Memory Care Near You

 

In Maine, there are three kinds of assisted living residences that offer room and board with full-time care for dementia patients as of 2024. They are:

1) Assisted living programs, a type of residence which provides personal care services to people in a community of apartment-style buildings. The apartments have their own living rooms and residents usually share a dining space.

2) Residential care facilities, a type of residence which provides personal and health care services to people living in private and semi-private bedrooms. Residents usually share living and dining space.

3) Private non-medical institutions, a type of residence which offers similar personal and health care services as above, but are funded through Medicaid.

All residences offer support with the Activities of Daily Living (mobility, bathing, dressing, eating, toileting), and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, which includes cleaning, laundry, banking and other daily tasks. They may also provide meals, care management, medication assistance, and nursing care.

Any of these residences may house people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia in special wings, units, or in a whole building specializing in memory care. Among the requirements for these Alzheimer’s or dementia care units are:

These buildings’ designs and construction must follow certain rules that benefit people with dementia, like circular hallways for residents prone to wandering. Additional training for staff is also required.

Assisted living in Maine is regulated by the state’s Department of Health and Human Services.

 Help is Here: Dementia patients in Maine and their families can use a free online test by clicking here to see if they qualify for Maine Medicaid, which is also known as MaineCare and covers long-term care services in memory care, assisted living, or at home, as well as the full cost of nursing home care. Maine seniors can also receive free assistance finding memory care residences that match their needs by clicking here.

 

How Much Does Memory Care Cost in Maine?

The cost of assisted living and memory care can vary depending on where in Maine the residence is located. The table below lists the median monthly cost of both assisted living and memory care facilities in different areas of the state as of 2025. Individuals who are in the early to mid stages of dementia may be best suited for assisted living facilities, which are less expensive than memory care, while those with more severe symptoms or who are in the late stages of dementia will likely need memory care.

For context, the median cost of assisted living across the country in 2025 was $6,200/month, while it was $8,205/month in Maine in 2025.

Maine Assisted Living and Memory Care Median Cost per Month in 2025
Region / City  Assisted Living Monthly Cost Memory Care Monthly Cost
Bangor $8,205 $10,667
Lewiston $8,205 $10,667
Portland $8,753 $11,378
Non-metropolitan areas $8,205 $10,667

 

Maine Assisted Living Laws & Regulations

Admissions Process & Requirements

New residents in assisted living in Maine must undergo an assessment within 30 days of moving in, and undergo an updated assessment annually, as of 2024. This evaluation is usually done by a healthcare professional who works for the home, and the cost is typically part of what’s called a community fee. This one time fee covers up-front move-in expenses like an assessment and formulation of individualized care plan and preparing a room for a new resident (deep cleaning and painting). The assessment must include which activities of daily living, like eating and bathing, and instrumental activities of daily living, like managing medications and finances, your loved one needs help with. Medication requirements and whether nursing service is necessary would also be covered in the assessment.

Every assisted living residence in Maine must have a standardized contract for new residents that lists each service provided and the related cost, so there can be no surprises in billing later. Contracts must also include:

A packet must also be available to any potential residents that includes this information:

Specifics on the type of assisted living program provided (see above)

You do not need a diagnosis of dementia to move into memory care in Maine. Dementia is difficult to diagnose, with varying symptoms and multiple types that can appear very similar.

Someone may be denied admittance because:

It is possible to move into Maine assisted living homes on short notice, even those with memory care, but this is not a good idea. Finding the perfect home for your loved one takes time and effort. You’ll want to talk with other residents and staff, inspect the grounds, and investigate all your options before signing a move-in contract. Starting your search before the move is necessary also allows your loved one to have more say in where they end up.

 

Facility / Residence

The requirements for room size of Residential Care Facilities is that bedroom units for one person must be at least 100 square feet or 160 square feet for two people. Two is the maximum number of people allowed in one unit. One toilet must be provided for every six people, and one bath or shower for every 15 people.

Memory care residences must have physical designs that are dementia-friendly. This means features like easily navigated layouts and hallways that run circular without coming to a dead end. Secure outdoor spaces that allow people with dementia to spend time in the open air have also been shown to be beneficial.

 

Staff & Training

There are no required staffing ratios in Maine assisted living homes. However, there must be enough staff at all times to meet the needs of every resident’s service plan. At least one staffer must be on-duty and awake at all times. An on-site administrator, dietary coordinator, and pharmaceutical consultant must also be employed by Maine assisted living homes. Administrators must be licensed in assisted living or have at least five years of experience in a related field. Administrators must also complete state-approved training and with 12 hours annually of continuing education in a relevant field. Staff who work with residents with dementia must have had pre-service training provided by the residence that includes 16 hours of orientation.

 

Evictions & Discharges

When moving into an assisted living home in Maine, every resident should be given a written document that explains the process for discharge or eviction. This is an important document that you should file because unfair evictions can be a problem for families nationwide. Regulations say a resident can be evicted for:

Unlike some other states, Maine does not require the home to assist in finding a new place for your loved one to live. Fortunately, resources are available to help. For information on what to do after receiving an eviction notice, click here.

 

Financial Assistance for Residential Alzheimer’s Memory Care

Veterans Affairs (VA)

Qualified Maine veterans (or their surviving spouses) with dementia can also receive financial assistance through a Veterans Affairs (VA) Pension that they could use to pay for assisted living or memory care.

There are three levels of VA Pensions – Basic, Aid & Attendance (A&A) and Housebound. To qualify for any of them, veterans or their surviving spouses need to meet a net worth limit of $163,699 (effective Dec. 1, 2025 – Nov. 30, 2026), which is calculated by adding the total of their assets to their annual income. Some assets are exempt, like a primary home, primary vehicle and household furniture and appliances. VA Pension applicants also have to meet an income limit to be eligible – their income must be less than the VA Pension they are applying for in order for them to qualify. And veterans must meet a military service requirement, which includes not having received a dishonorable discharge.

To qualify for A&A, veterans or their surviving spouses must also meet a medical requirement, which is one of the following must be true:

To qualify for Housebound, veterans must spend most of their time in their home due to a permanent disability.

There is no medical requirement for VA Basic Pensions.

Qualified veterans or their surviving spouses are entitled to their Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) minus their annual income. The following MAPRs are effective from Dec. 1, 2025 to Nov. 30, 2026:

VA Basic Pension MAPRs

VA Aid & Attendance MAPRs

VA Housebound MAPRs

 More information on VA Pensions’ eligibility criteria, payment rates, and the application process is available here.

Veterans Homes

There are also six veterans’ homes in Maine, which are residential care facilities that provide long-term care for veterans. They are located in:

In addition to nursing home care, assisted living and memory care are provided. Neighboring states also have veterans’ homes. Your loved one might consider looking there for more options as there are no requirements that one must live in the state. Both Maine and New Hampshire have one facility statewide. More info.

 

Supplemental Security Income

Dementia patients age 65 and over with limited income and assets may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). These funds can be used to pay for the cost of assisted living or memory care. As of 2026, the maximum SSI benefit for an individual is $994/month and for a married couple it’s $1,491/month.

To qualify for SSI, applicants must be age 65 and over or have a significant disability, and they must meet an income limit and an asset limit. As of 2026, individuals may meet the SSI income limit if they earn less than $2,073/month OR they get less than $1,014/month from non-work sources, like Social Security benefits or pension payments. They may meet the SSI asset limit if they have $2,000 or less in countable assets. For couples, the income limit is $3,067/month in work income or $1,511/month in non-work income, and the asset limit is $3,000.

 

Other Options

1) Elder care loans exist for families to cover the costs of moving into memory care while waiting for other financial resources to become available. For example, if one is waiting for a VA pension to be approved or waiting to sell a home. More on bridge loans for memory care.

2) Some tax credits and deductions can provide financial relief for seniors with dementia and their families. Seniors with limited financial resources can claim the Credit for the Elderly and/or the Disabled, as long as no one can claim them as a dependent. If someone (like an adult child) can claim the senior as a dependent, they can utilize the Child and Dependent Care Credit, and they can deduct any medical or dental expenses they paid for the senior.

3) A reverse mortgage loan can be a viable option for some senior homeowners who are in need of extra income to help pay dementia care. However, reverse mortgages are not recommended for every senior homeowner who needs extra income, so it’s important to consult with a professional before taking out one of these loans.